Provision of wound filler

ABSTRACT

A process of manufacturing a wound dressing filler and/or wound dressing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase of the PCT International Application No. PCT/GB2011/000998, filed on Jul. 1, 2011, and which claims priority to application GB 1011173.0, filed on Jul. 2, 2010.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a wound filler at a wound site prior to the application of negative pressure wound therapy. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a method of injecting filler material through a pre-arranged drape at a wound site.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has become widely used as a treatment mechanism for chronic or acute wounds. The therapy utilises the application of negative pressure to a wound. This causes mechanical contraction of the wound and/or micro-deformation of the wound-bed stimulating increased blood flow in the surrounding tissues and formation of new granulation tissue. Fluid and other deleterious material is removed from the wound. The wound site is also protected from external contaminants. Often the negative pressure is transmitted to and fluid removed from the wound-bed via a porous wound filler.

Known wound fillers are composed of either foam or gauze and both of these options work well in transmitting negative pressure and removing fluid.

Typically foam fillers, which tend to be of an open celled and possibly reticulated nature, are cut to shape and then packed into the wound cavity. Alternatively, if gauze is used then a pad of gauze is formed and then packed into the cavity. The wound and filler is then sealed using a drape and negative pressure applied via tubes connected in some way through the drape to a source of negative pressure such as a vacuum pump. A single or multi-lumen tube can be utilised to connect the wound site to the negative pressure source. Optionally, the tube or tubes can be fixed to the wound site via a coupling, sometimes referred to as a suction head, adhered to the top of the drape. Alternatively, the tube or tubes can themselves be passed under the drape or through the drape.

US2008/0004549 discloses a system for applying negative pressure on a wound which includes a device configured to provide negative pressure, a dressing sealably covering the wound and a spray-in foam located within the wound below the dressing material. Use of the spray-in foam overcomes the problem that a process of applying a dressing is tedious and time consuming. Unfortunately, US2008/0004549 does not suggest any material which would be suitable as a spray-in foam. Neither does the disclosure teach how the spray-in foam could, in practice, be applied at a wound site. In this sense the patent application is silent as to the necessary details which would enable a skilled person to use spray-in foam as suggested.

The technique suggested in US2008/0004549 is also prone to a problem caused as the foam is sprayed into a wound site. That is to say the foam rises up uncontrollably and would tend to spread too far vertically as well as over the peri-wound area. As such, the foam would require removing from around the wound to prevent skin maceration. Cutting or trimming wound fillers presents a risk to the clinician of leaving behind wound filler in a patient. This could hinder healing and may cause a rejection reaction from the patient's body a future date.

By adhering the drape securely to the peri-wound area (the healthy skin/dermis surrounding the wound), injected foam is prevented or substantially prevented from making contact with the healthy skin/dermal surface. It is well known to those in the art that wound exudate should be prevented, or at least try to prevent as much as possible from making contact with healthy skin/dermis.

For wounds that occur on awkward areas of the body, the packing of the wound can be problematical regardless of the prior known filling technique which is utilised. For example, if the wound is on the side or underside of a body then the filler can easily fall out before a clinician has an opportunity to apply the drape over the filler. Alternatively, the patient may be required to adopt an uncomfortable position in order to prevent the filler from falling out of the wound site. Even the spray in foam technique suggested in US2008/0004549 is prone to such a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aim of the present invention to at least partly mitigate the above-mentioned problems.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a method of dressing a wound prior to the application of negative pressure wound therapy in a prompt and efficient manner.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for dressing a wound and a method of applying negative pressure at a wound site in which filler material is not prone to falling out of a wound or being partially dislodged from the wound.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a method of dressing a wound which can be applied to awkward areas of the body.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to manufacture an improved wound dressing filler and/or wound dressing, having a filler.

The drape of the invention may be any known suitable medical drape in particular it may be a gas permeable or semi-permeable drape coated in a pressure sensitive adhesive, for example Opsite or Tegaderm or other well known drapes in the medical field. Suitably the drape will be a flexible drape. A flexible drape has the advantage of conforming to the treatment area. Also when injecting foam filler into an area enclosed, whether enclosed entirely substantially or partially, having a flexible drape helps ensure a smooth surface, but importantly minimises voids of no foam filler in the area under the drape. This is particularly important when the dressing is being used for negative pressure treatment.

This is also particularly important when the foam is only mixed immediately prior to injection as the foam may still be mixing and reacting to its final composition.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing a wound filler at a wound site prior to application of negative pressure wound therapy, the method comprising: securing at least one drape element over a wound site; and subsequently injecting filler material through at least one opening in the drape.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing negative pressure wound therapy at a wound site, comprising: securing at least one drape element over a wound site; subsequently injecting filler material through at least one opening in the drape element; connecting the injected filler material to a source of negative pressure; and applying negative to the wound site pressure via said source.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing wound filler at a wound site, comprising: providing a wound cavity by covering a wound bed; and subsequently injecting filler material into the wound cavity.

According to some aspects of the present invention there is provided a process of manufacture of a wound dressing filler and/or wound dressing, the process comprising securing at least one drape element over a chosen site; and subsequently injecting wound dressing filler material through at least one opening in the drape.

Further this may be an in situ wound dressing and manufacture thereof. Certain embodiments of the present invention provide the advantage that a wound site is covered with a drape prior to the introduction of filler material. By covering a wound site with a drape a wound chamber region is generated which can then subsequently be filled with an injected material. This has the advantage that wound filler will conform intimately to a wound bed and also be prevented from falling out of a wound. The injected material can be any suitable material such as an injectable foam or string or the like. By the term “the cavity under the drape element” this also includes any cavity partially or substantially enclosed by the drape element not just strictly under.

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide an advantage that a wound chamber defined by a wound bed or wound contact layer and an overlying drape or other type of cover can be filled entirely with filler material. This has the advantage that the drape may fit and secure better at its chosen site as the entire cavity is filled with filler. This may obtain therefore a smooth surface; important for patient comfort should the patient lie on the dressing. This enhances the application of negative pressure across the whole wound bed as well as allowing fluid to be removed from all areas of the wound as there are no voids and/or less wringles in the drape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the application of negative pressure wound therapy;

FIG. 2 illustrates covering a wound site with a drape;

FIG. 3 illustrates injecting filler through an aperture in a drape;

FIG. 4 illustrates removal of excess filler; and

FIG. 5 illustrates injecting string like filler material.

In the description like reference numerals refer to like parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system (100) for applying negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) at a wound site (101). The wound site is a region including a wound bed and surrounding skin. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the wound bed (102) is separated in a spaced apart manner from an overlying drape (103) by filler material (104). The drape (103) has an adhesive on a lower surface which enables the drape to be secured around the wound. Other ways of securing a cover over a wound bed are of course possible. An aperture (105) is formed in the drape and a suction head (106) is secured over the aperture. The suction head (106) includes a flange (107) which encircles the aperture (105) and a spout (108) which is secured to a suction tube (109) leading to a vacuum pump system (110).

Alternative forms of negative pressure sources may be utilised according to certain embodiments of the present invention. For example, but not limited to, fixed displacement pumps, syringes, wall suction apparatus, mechanical pumps or the like.

Negative pressure generally refers to pressure less than ambient pressure at a wound site where treatment is to be carried out. Aptly the negative pressure is in the range −10 mmHg to −400 mmHg. Aptly the negative pressure applied is in the range −80 mmHg to −180 mmHg. Aptly the negative pressure applied is I the range −110 mmHg to −140 mmHg.

It will be appreciated that instead of a single suction tube (109) the pumping system (110) may be connected to the suction head (106) via a multi-lumen tube. Also the connecting tube (109) may be itself be formed as multiple tubes which might, from time to time, be connected and reconnected by some sort of coupling device to assist clinical staff.

Although not shown, the pumping system (110) will include a pump enabled to establish suitable ranges of negative pressure either continuously or intermittently and a collecting container such as a canister or bag or the like. One or more filters may be included to prevent contamination of the pumping unit when a disposable container is utilised or to help prevent odours escaping.

FIG. 2 illustrates a wound cavity (200) formed between an upper surface of the wound bed (102) or overlying wound contact layer (not shown) and a lower surface of the drape (103). The wound site corresponds to a region of bodily tissue of any human, animal or other organism. This includes, but is not limited to, bone tissue, dermal tissue, connective tissue or the like. The wound site may include a wound, or defective tissue and/or healthy tissue.

FIG. 2 illustrates an early stage in the application of negative pressure wound therapy at a wound site. A wound and surrounding peri-wound area are prepared and then a drape is secured over the wound bed. Because there is no filler material which can fall out of a wound, healthcare providers have an excellent opportunity to provide a good seal by carefully securing the drape around the wound to ensure a good seal is generated. A hole is then made in the drape by the healthcare provider. Alternatively, a hole may be made in the drape at any point before application to the wound.

An in-situ forming wound filler is applied to the wound site after the drape has been attached to the patient. It has been found that, for example, a liquid foam forming material can be injected through an aperture in the drape to form the filler in the wound chamber. Suitable injectors could be any suitable injector known in the art, these include but not limited to, syringes, double barrel syringes, aerosols, injection guns, dynamic mixers, power mixers and or static mixers 2 or more part static mixers. Suitably a 2 part static mixer could be used for the present invention.

As such, the filler will conform intimately to the wound bed and also be prevented from falling out of the wound by the pre-arranged drape. This enables wounds to be dressed for NPWT on all parts of a body single-handedly or without the need for many assistants without placing a patient in an awkward position. It is advantageous when applying the filler to wounds, for example, on a side of a body, that an aperture in the drape is placed towards the top of the drape in order to allow the injected filler material to fill the cavity from the bottom up.

It will be appreciated that optionally a wound liner can be placed in the wound prior to application of the drape and subsequent in situ forming filler. This may have the advantage of preventing skin formation at the base of the filler material in use.

There are many different materials which are capable of forming a porous structure from liquid starting components. For example, suitable materials are those based on two-part polyurethane chemistry and are formed by mixing an isocyanate pre-polymer with a water/surfactant phase. The isocyanate reacts with the water to cross-link the pre-polymer and at the same time liberate carbon dioxide to produce a porous structure.

Advantageously, formulations are used which cure in less than five minutes. Silicon-based foams are also suitable for use with the present invention. Such materials are two-component liquid systems capable for forming a porous structure. An example is Cavi-care™. Cavi-care™ is a two-part room-temperature vulcanising foam, produced from a polydimethylsiloxane base, a platinum catalyst and hydrogen gas-releasing agent which react together to form a soft-pliable, slightly absorbent white foam. Such material typically cures in around two minutes.

Use of hydrogen as a blowing agent i.e. using a hydrogen gas releasing agent, is advantageous as the small molecule size of hydrogen allows for rapid diffusion through a gas permeable or semi-permeable drape.

Suitably the present invention would be with a solventless system for forming the porous structure for the area under the drape. This could be for instance a 2 part solventless system to produce a porous foam filler in the area under the drape. Rapid gas release through the drape allows for a uniform density, highly porous foam to be generated under the drape. In this way foams of uniform pore size are produced in the enclosure under the drape.

An advantage of the present invention is that the porous structure under the drape is produced in situ. The liquid components are reacting or foaming under the drape to produce the finished dressing and/or dressing filler.

This has many advantages including ensuring an intimate contact with the wound surface.

One advantage that is special to the present invention is the use of a solventless system to produce the porous filler to be situated under the drape.

Certain embodiments of the present invention are directed to the use of solventless systems to produce the porous filler. Such foaming systems only produce gas as a by product when reacting/foaming to produce the final solid/semi-solid product as a filler e.g. foam.

The advantage of having only a gas e.g. Hydrogen as a by product to the reaction, under the drape, to produce the filler of the dressing is that this quickly escapes the dressing through the drape or the edges of the drape to skin contact or indeed the orifice in which the filler was injected. Further it will be appreciated that solvents require heat to change phase from liquid to gas and this heat must be taken from the foam and its surrounding atmosphere, which may include the wound itself. Cooling of a wound may delay healing and cause discomfort to the patient therefore it is to be avoided. Therefore, a further advantage of solventless systems is that there is no endothermic effect on the wound.

Use of solvent based systems to produce the final solid/semi-solid filler under the drape may have the disadvantage of getting rid of the solvent from under the drape and indeed the solvent may be harmful to a patient.

As mentioned above a solventless system in which the filler is produced under the drape in situ, i.e. where the filler is still reacting under the drape to produce its final form has the advantage among other things to enable a good intimate contact with the wound surface.

This intimate contact with the wound surface free of large voids etc is important when the dressing is intended to be used with negative pressure wound therapy.

Aptly the present invention uses a 2 component liquid solventless system to react under the drape to produce a solid porous filler, for example a porous foam filler.

Still this may be silicon based or a polyurethane based for example, porous fillers or porous foam fillers.

Producing only gas as a reacting by product under the drape when producing the final solid/semi solid filler allows a wider range of drapes to be used.

The in-situ forming components of Cavi-care™ can be packaged in a double-barrel syringe (301) of the type illustrated in FIG. 3 which is equipped with a static mixer (302).

Dispensing the reactive components, to the wound, through the static mixer (302) causes a chemical reaction to start which then continues in the wound chamber under the drape (103). It has been found that expansion within the wound chamber against the closed wound bed and closed drape surprisingly allows the injected material to generate a foam without causing the overlying drape to lift away from the wound bed. As illustrated in FIG. 4 instead of the drape lifting away from the wound bed injected filler material which is surplus to requirements to fill the wound chamber (200) merely escapes through the aperture during the injection process. The excess material (400) can then simply be removed by clinical staff using scissors or a knife. During the injection phase, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the nozzle (303) of the syringe (301) can be used to urge the injected filler throughout the wound cavity. This is particularly advantageous to ensure that the filler abuts the wound edge regions and thus completely fills the wound cavity. Subsequent to injecting the filler the excess material is removed and once completely cured, the suction head (106) can be secured over the aperture (105) and negative pressure wound therapy can begin.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which instead of the double-barrel syringe (301) used to inject a filler material a pressurized canister (500) is utilised to inject string-like filler material into a wound cavity. FIG. 5 also illustrates an optional wound contact layer (501) which, as noted above, might also be used with the previously referred-to embodiment.

In order to utilise the string-like filler material a wound bed is first covered by a wound contact layer (501) and then a drape (103) is secured over the wound site. The drape is secured to provide a leak-free seal around the wound bed. An aperture (103) is preformed in the drape (103) or is then generated in the drape by clinical staff. The pressurised canister (500) contains pre-stored material under pressure and this is released along a dispensing nozzle (502) when a user presses a cap (503) in the direction A shown in FIG. 5. The filler material stored in the canister (500) is then released along the nozzle (502) and injected into the wound chamber as a string. As this string cures a porous lattice structure is generated in the wound chamber. As with the previous embodiment the nozzle can be used to ensure the filler reaches all regions within the wound cavity.

Embodiments of the present invention provide the advantage that a filler can be formed suitable for the application of NPWT which conforms intimately with a wound bed or wound contact layer and is also prevented from falling out of a wound by a pre-arranged drape. This means that it is possible to dress wounds with a filler for NPWT on all parts of the body, either via a single person or with minimal assistance. This also avoids the need to place a patient in awkward position or helps keep such placement to a minimum.

An example of one embodiment of the present invention but not limited to maybe, the process comprising:

-   -   securing at least one drape element over a chosen site; and     -   subsequently injecting a liquid state wound dressing filler         material through at least one opening in the drape, in which         under the drape the liquid state wound dressing filler is         reacting giving off gas and subsequently hardens to a         solid/semi-solid porous wound filler under the drape.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words “comprise” and “contain” and variations of them mean “including but not limited to”, and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of providing wound filler at a wound site prior to application of negative pressure wound therapy, the method comprising: first, securing a drape over a wound cavity to form a seal; second and subsequently to forming the seal, injecting a liquid foam filler material through an aperture in the drape, the liquid foam filler material configured to expand outward as the liquid foam filler material cures into a solid and substantially fills an entire volume of the wound cavity, the liquid foam filler material applying an outward force a against the wound cavity and the drape and thereby directing the expanding foam filler through the aperture without causing the seal to lift away from the wound cavity; and third, removing excess foam filler material which flows out through the aperture.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foam filler cures into the form of an elongated string, the elongated string comprising a porous lattice structure.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: forming a porous structure by injecting a pre-mixed biocompatible foam.
 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: lining a wound bed at the wound site with a liner element prior to securing the drape over the wound site.
 5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: locating a fluid communication port over each opening in the drape.
 6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: urging injected filler material into peripheral regions of a wound cavity under the drape prior to allowing the filler material to set or curing the filler material.
 7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising: injecting the filler material with an injector apparatus comprising a nozzle member; and urging the filler material with the nozzle member.
 8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein removing excess filler material comprises cutting off semi-solid filler material subsequent to drape the material having flowed out through the aperture.
 9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein connecting the injected filler material comprises: securing a suction port comprising a spout member and a flange member over each opening in the drape; and securing a distal end of a suction lumen to the spout member of the suction port.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein removing excess filler material comprises removing an outer skin layer of the filler material.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the outer skin layer comprises a section of foam that has cured into a structure that will not transmit negative pressure.
 12. A method of providing negative pressure wound therapy at a wound site, comprising: first, securing at least one drape over a wound site to form a seal; second and subsequently to forming the seal, injecting filler material through at least one opening in the drape, the filler material configured to expand and fill a wound cavity under the drape, the filler material further configured to apply an outward force to the wound and the drape without causing the seal to lift away from the wound cavity; third, fluidically connecting the injected filler material to a source of negative pressure; and fourth, applying negative to the wound cavity pressure via said source.
 13. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising: urging injected filler material into peripheral regions of a wound cavity under the drape prior to allowing the filler material to set or curing the filler material.
 14. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: injecting the filler material with an injector apparatus comprising a nozzle member; and urging the filler material with the nozzle member.
 15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein applying negative pressure comprises one of selectively, continuously, or intermittently applying a predetermined negative pressure via a suction pump.
 16. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising removing excess filler material that flows through an opening in the drape.
 17. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the filler material is in the shape of an elongated string.
 18. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the injector apparatus comprises two chambers and a static mixer. 